The Ferry Is the Whole Conversation
Moving to Vancouver Island with pets is mostly about the ferry crossing. If you're driving from anywhere in BC or beyond, your pet will experience at least one BC Ferries sailing — likely 90 minutes to 2 hours on the Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay route, or one of the other mainland connections. For many pets, this is the most disorienting part of the entire move. Planning it properly makes a real difference.
BC Ferries does accommodate pets, but the rules are specific and the options vary by vessel. Know what you're working with before you book.
BC Ferries Rules for Dogs and Cats
Vehicle Deck Option (Most Common)
On most sailings, pets must remain in your vehicle on the vehicle deck. You leave your car parked, walk up to the passenger decks, and your pet stays in the vehicle for the duration of the crossing. On the main Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay run, that's roughly 95 minutes.
The vehicle deck is enclosed, not temperature-controlled to indoor standards, and noisy — engine noise, exhaust (ventilation runs during sailing), and the sounds of a working ferry. In summer, vehicle decks can get warm. In the past, BC Ferries allowed passengers to stay with their pets on the vehicle deck for limited periods; current policy restricts vehicle deck access during sailing. Check the current policy on bcferries.com before your crossing, as these rules are updated periodically.
Pet Lounge (Select Vessels)
Several of BC Ferries' larger vessels on the Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay route have a designated Pet Lounge — an enclosed, climate-controlled deck area where passengers can stay with their pets during the crossing. The pet lounge is separate from the main passenger areas. Dogs must remain on leash; cats must stay in their carrier.
The pet lounge is available on Spirit-class vessels (Spirit of British Columbia, Spirit of Vancouver Island) and some Coastal-class vessels. Not all sailings on the route use these vessels — check which ship is assigned to your specific sailing on the BC Ferries website before booking. Vehicle space in the pet lounge is limited; some vessels have a dedicated parking level near the pet lounge elevator access. There is no extra fee to use the pet lounge, though you still pay the standard passenger fare.
Kennel Option
BC Ferries does not currently operate an on-board kennel service. There is no staffed kennel where you can drop off your pet and come back later. Your options are: vehicle deck (pet alone in car), pet lounge (you stay with pet), or for very small pets in an approved soft-sided carrier, bringing the carrier into general passenger areas on some vessels. For the last option, the carrier must fit under the seat and the pet must remain in the carrier at all times — check current policy as this is route- and vessel-dependent.
⚠️ Summer Heat Warning
If you're crossing on a hot summer day and your pet will be in the vehicle on the vehicle deck, take precautions. Park in the shade if possible (not always an option). Leave windows cracked open at least 2–3 inches for ventilation. Bring frozen water in a bowl they can access. An ice pack or cooling mat in their crate helps. Seriously consider timing your crossing for morning or evening rather than mid-afternoon on days over 25°C. Cars on vehicle decks get warm.
Tips for Anxious Pets on the Ferry
The combination of car travel, noise, motion, and unfamiliar smells makes ferry crossings stressful for many animals. Some things that actually help:
Crate-train before the move. If your pet isn't crate-trained, start weeks before the move. A pet who sees their crate as a safe space tolerates transit much better than one for whom the crate only appears at the vet. Cover the crate with a blanket on the ferry — reducing visual stimulation reduces stress for most dogs and almost all cats.
Exercise before boarding. Walk your dog thoroughly before joining the ferry queue. A tired dog is a calmer dog. Don't feed a big meal immediately before the crossing if your pet has any tendency toward motion sickness.
Familiar smells. Put a worn t-shirt or something with your scent in the crate. For cats especially, a carrier that smells like home is a meaningful comfort.
Anti-anxiety options. Talk to your vet before the move about options for anxious pets. Prescription options (trazodone, gabapentin, alprazolam) are available through your current vet and can make a significant difference for genuinely anxious animals. Over-the-counter products like Zylkene, Adaptil (dogs) or Feliway (cats) are less powerful but worth using for moderately anxious pets. Benadryl is sometimes used as a mild sedative for cats — it works for some, not others; ask your vet for proper dosing.
On the pet lounge if available: Stay calm yourself. Pets read anxiety from their owners readily. Sit near the carrier, speak normally, avoid overly soothing baby-talk (which can signal to a dog that something is wrong). If your dog is comfortable walking, a quiet walk around the lounge can help burn nervous energy.
✓ Ferry Crossing Checklist
- Check vessel type for your sailing — confirm pet lounge availability
- Water and collapsible bowl in the vehicle
- Cooling mat or frozen water bottle for summer crossings
- Carrier covered with familiar blanket for cats
- Poop bags accessible in your bag, not buried in boxes
- Collar with ID tag current (address might be old — temporary tag or engraved disc)
- Copy of vaccination records in car glove box
Finding a Vet on Vancouver Island
Veterinary access on Vancouver Island has the same pattern as human healthcare — urban areas have good coverage, rural areas are stretched. Victoria and Nanaimo have multiple veterinary practices, emergency animal hospitals, and specialists. Smaller communities may have one or two clinics and nothing after-hours within a reasonable drive.
Before you move, research vets in your destination community. Many Vancouver Island clinics are not accepting new patients — seriously. The shortage of veterinarians is real. Call ahead, confirm they're accepting new patients, and if possible get your pet established (even for a wellness visit) before any emergencies arise.
Emergency vet clinics on the island: Victoria Emergency Veterinary Hospital in Saanich operates 24 hours. Central Island Veterinary Emergency Clinic in Nanaimo covers evening and overnight hours. North of Campbell River, emergency vet access is limited — this is worth factoring into decisions about where to live if you have older pets or animals with chronic conditions.
When you register with a new vet, bring your pet's full records from your previous clinic. Most practices will request these directly, but having a printed copy avoids delays.
BC Pet Licence Registration
Pet licensing in BC is handled at the municipal or regional district level, not provincially. Each community has its own requirements and fee structure. In general:
- Victoria (City of Victoria): Dogs must be licensed annually. Fees are around $45/year for sterilized dogs, $70–$90 for unsterilized. Rabies vaccination required. Register within 30 days of moving to the city.
- Nanaimo: Dog licensing through the City of Nanaimo. Similar fee structure. Cats are not currently licensed in Nanaimo, though this has been debated.
- Greater Victoria Regional District (Saanich, Oak Bay, etc.): Each municipality within the CRD has its own licensing — check your specific municipality's bylaws.
- Rural areas: Many rural areas covered by regional districts (CVRD, RDN, CVRD) have animal control bylaws but may not require formal licensing the way municipalities do. Check with your regional district.
Microchipping is strongly recommended (not universally required but near-universal best practice). If your pet isn't microchipped, get it done when you register with your new vet. Update the microchip registry with your new BC address — the chip is only useful if the address is current.
International Movers: Quarantine and Import Rules
If you're moving from outside Canada — the US, UK, Europe, Australia, Asia — there are federal import rules that apply to your pets, administered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). These are separate from BC requirements and must be satisfied at the port of entry.
Dogs from the United States: Relatively straightforward. Dogs must be accompanied by a certificate stating they're currently vaccinated against rabies. Puppies under 3 months don't require a rabies certificate. No formal quarantine required for dogs from the US if properly documented.
Dogs from other countries: Requirements depend on the country's rabies risk classification. Dogs from high-risk countries require additional documentation, potentially a waiting period, and must be accompanied by a CFIA import permit. Check the CFIA website (canada.ca/en/food-inspection-agency) for the current country-specific requirements well before your travel date.
Cats: Canada has no quarantine requirement for cats entering from most countries, but vaccination records and a health certificate from a licensed vet may be required depending on the country of origin. Cats from rabies-free countries (Australia, New Zealand, some EU countries) need specific documentation.
Timing: Apply for any import permits at least 6–8 weeks before your planned entry. The CFIA processing timeline can vary. If you're using a pet relocation service, they'll manage documentation — but understand what's being done on your behalf, because you're responsible at the border.
For the full picture of moving to Vancouver Island from outside Canada, see our international mover's guide. For information on Vancouver Island's pet-friendly communities and off-leash parks, see our pet-friendly Vancouver Island guide. The main moving to Vancouver Island guide covers the full logistics of the move itself.